This Week's Weather: No Heavy Coats Needed, Yet

The recent, mild temperatures, by Estonian standards at least, should be holding on a few days longer, though anyone who has apples to gather this week should be prepared for rain.

Two pressure systems will be battling for control of the Estonian skies on Tuesday. The Meteorology and Hydrology Institute has predicted that the higher-pressure zone will win out, allowing through only the occasional shower here and there. Thermometer readings should once again be in the 17 to 21 C range by day, dropping to 5 to 10 C in inland areas after nightfall.

On Wednesday, a low-pressure zone approaching from the Baltic Sea could spell rain, though daytime temperatures are slated to remain as they were on Tuesday. The night will be a warmer 8 to 14 C.

Thursday's weather is likely to be a repeat of Wednesday's, though this time the low-pressure zone is coming in from the southerly direction and is weaker. Associated clouds could nevertheless decide to unload their contents onto various parts of the country. The mercury is expected to climb into a similar 18 to 21 C range during the day, then after dark drop to 6 to 14 C.

The main body of a moist air system moving in from Central Europe should be over Estonia by Friday, but its fattest clouds are likely to bypass the country. Occasional showers are a possibility, and will likely lead into a weekend of intermittent rain. Temperatures should be 18 to 22 C.

The Estonian Maritime Administration decided on Wednesday to reopen maritime traffic routes where in colder winters ice roads would make it possible to drive out to the islands. This winter is too warm, and the ice not strong enough.

The police barred ice fishers from venturing out onto the sea ice off the coast of the Pärnu, Saare and Lääne counties on Tuesday. With the rising temperatures, the ice is now too thin, and anyone going out on it is in danger of breaking through.

Let's Do It! movement that began in Estonia in 2008 and has since organized campaigns in 112 countries, involving 14,5 million people, has announced it will hold a worldwide cleanup day on September 8, 2018.

Soomaa, a national park in southwestern Estonia that stretches over 390 square kilometers of wetlands, floods every year during what is called the “fifth season” in Estonia. However, for several years now, the flooding has started in January, considerably earlier than before.

Estonia is ranked 8th in the recently published Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2016, which rates world's top and worst performers in terms of their efforts to protect ecosystems and human health.

The Internal Security Services (ISS) found an 85-kilo container, designed to hold radioactive material, dug into the ground near the border of the Estonian capital. The barrel posed no direct danger to either people or the environment.

The National Audit Office is of the opinion that local governments should be more active in ensuring everyone’s right to access the sea, lakes or rivers for recreation and exercise, and make sure that there are signs that point people who are unfamiliar with the local conditions in the right direction.

The weekend will bring more strong winds and sea level rise, met office warns. People are advised to keep an eye on weather forecasts and be prepared for power cuts, blocked roads, and disruptions in ferry services.

After precise measurements were taken, a 48.6 meter spruce, located in Veriora Rural Municipality, Põlva County, was recognized as Estonia’s tallest tree. Aand as an added bonus, a record setting 46.6 meter pine was located only a few hundred meters away from the spruce.

Estonian environmental activists have embarked on a project to raise public awareness about climate change by driving through seven countries en route to ongoing UN climate conference in Paris. The Climate Bus departed today and will make several stops on the way to Paris.

Estonia struggles with hunting-tourists who believe that EU hunting regulations do not apply in a country like Estonia. The Environmental Inspectorate has already caught two hunting parties this fall, who went against the practice of good conduct when hunting waterfowl.